Part 80 (2/2)

The three men who had rescued Charlie and Ping w.a.n.g were not talkative, and beyond saying, 'That's all right,' when they were thanked for their a.s.sistance, scarcely said a word. The skipper of the sailing s.h.i.+p was, however, very different.

'Get down below, boys, and put on some dry togs,' he exclaimed genially, as Charlie and Ping w.a.n.g scrambled over the gunwale. 'There are chests full of them.'

The fugitives obeyed him willingly, but as Charlie put on the dry things provided for him, he took stock of the saloon, and was astonished at what he saw. Pictures of prize-fighters and race-horses hung on the walls, and at the far end of the saloon there was a sort of bar, behind which he noted some black bottles.

'Surely this can't be a mission s.h.i.+p,' Charlie said, in an undertone, to Ping w.a.n.g.

'It isn't what I expected to find on one,' Ping w.a.n.g answered. 'However, we shall soon know, for here comes the skipper.'

'Well, how are you feeling now?' the skipper inquired boisterously.

'Better,' Charlie answered, wondering what his nationality was, for although he spoke English fluently, he was evidently a foreigner.

'That's good,' the skipper replied, 'but why didn't you tip me the wink that you were coming over to us? I would have had the boat hanging around for you. Do any of the other fellows want to come aboard?'

'No, they have all turned in by now.'

'What a crew they must be. Who is your skipper?'

'Drummond, of the _Sparrow-hawk_.'

'I know him. He pa.s.sed a bad five-s.h.i.+lling piece on me the last time he was aboard this craft.'

'Will he come aboard to-morrow do you think?' Ping w.a.n.g asked, with difficulty concealing his anxiety.

'Not likely. I told him that if ever he set foot on the _Lily_, I would go for him. However, we don't want to talk about him. What are you going to drink?'

'Tea or coffee, I don't mind which.'

The skipper threw back his head and laughed heartily, as if Charlie had said something that was witty. 'Do you really mean it?' he asked at length.

'I do.'

'Well!' the skipper gasped, and was evidently overcome with surprise.

After a few minutes' silence his spirits revived.

'I'll send you some tea down before long,' he said, and then went on deck without another word.

'Do you know what this s.h.i.+p is?' Charlie asked as soon as he was gone.

'If this is not a pleasure-boat, I do not know what it is,' Ping w.a.n.g answered.

'It's a coper.'

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